Oriental Rug BooksBooks for Persian Rug Buyers |
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Books About Oriental and Persian Carpets
Description: Murray Eiland's Oriental Rugs has long been the standard introduction to oriental rugs. The authors have extended the range of the book by incorporating new material on Chinese and Indian rugs. The book's focus is the nineteenth- and twentieth-century weaving of the Middle and Far East. This is introduced by a brief history of carpets, followed by a discussion of weaving techniques, dyes, and design. Traditional practices are described, along with modern innovations, such as computer-aided design. The use of synthetic dyes and the recent revival of natural dyes are given a balanced appraisal.
Consumer Review: "Best introduction you can buy" This is a classic, serious reference book on the different styles of oriental carpets. All geographical areas are covered so it is a great introduction to the field. It is probably the only book you need to buy unless you become serious in collecting carpets.
Description: In this comprehensive survey, P. R. J. Ford shows readers how to recognize the different structural and design features of oriental rugs and carpets. The designs are grouped according to their essential characteristics. This approach illuminates the cultural background of each, revealing at once the similarities and the differences between the various carpet-weaving areas. Illustrations of modern types, with descriptions of their key characteristics - construction, materials, sizes, colors - and of the clues that establish a rug's precise origins, appear together with a balanced appraisal of the qualities of modern production from towns, villages, and tribal areas. Consumer Review: This book has been my "bible" on the subject of oriental rugs for about 5 years. It has been a source of knowledge and great pleasure as I have learnt more and more on this fascinating subject and purchased many rugs in the meantime. It never stays in the bookshelf very long, as I am frequently referring to it as the rug buying "bug" hits me. The book is comprehensively illustrated and has detailed information on subtleties of pattern design, which help in the identification of different rugs, even within a single district. I cannot recommend this book too highly as an attractive and informative book for novice or experienced rug lovers alike. In comparison, I have been a little disappointed with "Oriental Rugs, Vol 2,PERSIA", which I purchased recently.
Description: A beautiful, practical introduction to Oriental carpets for laymen, designers, and collectors, presented from the perspective of a successful, third-generation wholesaler. J.R. Azizollahoff explains the complexities, intricacies and irregularities in old handmade carpets and identifies the more important rug types. Also provided is a look at new carpets, which gives the reader a glimpse of the wonderful energy and creativity to be found in modern rugs. Approximate values, newly revised to reflect current prices. Consumer Reviews: - The book is mostly full of beautiful pictures of rugs of all ages. Most, however, are higher end and not the market I can afford to be interested in. I had been hoping the book would at least comment on the (quality of the) thousands of rugs being sold on ebay each day for hundreds (not thousands) of dollars. I had been also hoping for more background information regarding the various types of rugs, but there was little. - As a professional Antique Persian Rug Dealer I have used this wonderful book in many aspects of my work. This books value in educating someone through the beautifully presented pictures and wide variety of ages and styles of rugs can't be overstated. - This is one of the few carpet books available that isn't a decade old. The picture quality and pricing information is great. Indian carpets make up 50% of the new carpet section with the rest being from Turkey, Pakistan, China, and other regions. What is missing in this section is any mention or pictures of contemporary carpets from Iran. The antique carpet section has a broad selection of carpets from all appropriate regions--including Iran. There is also around 10 pages of information on rug care and cleaning, knot count, new maching made carpets, buying carpets overseas, and judging antique carpet condition. Overall, great book!
Description: With this valuable book, novices and connoisseurs alike will be able to correctly identify the most distinctive styles and purchase contemporary Oriental rugs in traditional designs of the highest quality. The authoritative text provides valuable information on unusual rugs, rug pedigree and discernible workshop style, knot count, dyes, the Lotus design, and specific rug weaving areas--including India, Pakistan, Persia, Turkey, Nepal, Tibet, China, Egypt, and Romania. The text also provides essential rug-buying tips and recommendations for rug care. Consumer Review: A clear and concise readable guidline. There were a lot of wonderful pictures and all the information was very clear and understandable. A very valuable source for anyone who is thinking of buying an Oriental Rug.
Description: Novice collectors are in good hands here, for the author takes them through the initial problembatical areas - where to buy, what to look for, care and restoration, before turning his attention to the materials and techniques, dyes and designs, involved in the manufacture of rugs. In subsequent chapters on the output of different rug-producing locations, Dr. Eiland considers these area by area, so that, for instance, Persian rugs are discussed under eighteen area subheadings, including the Aegean region, Grdes, and the Anatolian coast. Within each chapter he considers the typical structure, size, designs and colours found in the area, together with any other significant features which will aid the new collector in identification. The body of the book presents and illustrates rugs from Persia, Turkey, the Caucasus, Afghanistan...
Consumer Review: Finally an Owners Manual for Oriental Rugs. This book is about much more than repairing Oriental Rugs. It is an indispensable owners guide. Of all the most common questions people ask me about rugs Stone answers them in an easy to understand and easy to follow fashion. How do you hang a rug on a wall? It is in there. How do I get a stain out of my rug? Whether it is urine (a frequent question from pet owners) to asphalt Stone tells you what you need to save your rug. Stone covers such topics as "when to repair" or insect damage. Stone guides us through the problem in a way any of us can handle it with ease... when I tell you that this book is the best book in the field it is because after years of study I know what I am talking about. The thing I like about this book is that Stone gives us a depth of detail found no where else. For instance when it comes to spills do you clean up calamine lotion the same way you clean up Aftershave lotion? No, two different processes and not knowing whichone to use can ruin your rug.
Editorial Review From Publishers Weekly: Murphy, an AP religion reporter, presents his travels across the zone where Persian carpets are made in a diligent quest to understand them as both art and commodity. He immerses himself in carpet-making culture, accruing trade secrets and learning specialized vocabulary from Afghan and Iranian mentors. Murphy begins his journey in a Tehran bazaar stacked high with carpets before traveling to the ancient weaving center of Herat, in northwestern Afghanistan, arriving weeks after the fall of the Taliban. Visiting Shiraz, he's impressed by the untutored intellect of young illiterate girl weavers. At last he finds himself amid wild madder fields (madder is the source of Persian carpets' characteristic shade of red). Taking in dog fights, gruesome games of polo and disturbing scenes of child labor and poverty, Murphy tactfully emphasizes the warm hospitality, expertise and enterprise of his Iranian and Afghan hosts, providing extended biographies for some of them. His book exudes humility and respect for Islamic culture and a welcome eyewitness account of, and historical information about, a region much in the news. Consumer Review: I've been a carpet collector (primarily tribal piece) for well over 20 years; this book spoke to me as some carpets speak to me! I'm especially grateful for the quotes attributed to Hossein Payghambary of Nomad carpet shop in Isfahan. I rarely read a book more than once BUT this has drawn me to do so because of the rich text and the author's compassion for his subject. This is MUST read for anyone with a heart for carpets.
Description: This book shows the vast range and quality of carpets woven in Persia from about 1850 to 1980. In addition, there is a discussion of rugs woven in countries or areas adjacent to Persia itself, particularly those rugs that either fell or fall into the Persian geographical or cultural orbit, Caucasian weavings, Turkish and Hereke silk rugs and certain weavings that have strong Persian and Islamic influences. The book is divided into sections dealing with each distinct generic type of rug: Nineteenth and early twentieth century city rugs, covering the major centres - Tabriz, Kashan, Kerman Esfahan, Mashad etc. The same from early twentieth century to the present day and including discussions of the major master-weavers such as Mohtasham of Kashan, the semi-mythical Haji Jalili of Tabriz, Amoghli of Mashad and the well-known later masters such as Sairafian, Haghighi, Mamouri and Hekmatnejad. The rugs and woven artefacts of the settled villages in the major weavings areas from west to east concentrating in particular on the many distinctive weaving areas of western Persia from late nineteenth century to the present day. The rugs and woven artefacts of the nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes of Persia from the late nineteenth century to the present day, with particular emphasis on the north western tribes of Kurds, Shahsavan and Lori; the south western tribes of the Lori-Bakhtiari, Lori, Qashqai, Khamseh and Afshari; the eastern tribes of Kurds, Baluchi and (related groups) and Afshari. A general chapter on the market place, buying and maintenance, display, and a section on structure, dyes etc. with diagrams. Essie Sakhai is a much respected expert and dealer in oriental carpets based in Central London. His first book The Story of Carpets was translated into many languages as was his second book Oriental Carpets: The Buyer’s Guide. The Editor, Ian Bennett, is himself author of numerous books on the subject including Caucasian in the Antique Collectors’ Club Oriental Rugs series.
Description: This is the first comprehensive survey of the vast and fascinating subject of Persian flatweaves, and in particular floor covers. Previous publications on the subject have largely been dealers' restricted catalogues focusing on a narrow geographical area or the weavings of a particular group, or sections in more general books. This book thus fills a huge gap in the oriental carpet and textile literature. Flatweaves have until recently been seen as merely the products and property of the poor. Since the late 1960s, however, growing attention has been paid to the best known type of flatweave, the gelim, revealing both its quality and variety. Other flatweaves, such as the palas, which is no less frequently found than the gelim, have scarcely been mentioned in any of the literature published so far.
Description: Drawing on the rich weaving traditions of the Near East and Central Asia, Peter Stone's clearly presented text is divided into six major regional and tribal groupings covering Anatolian, Baluchi, Caucasian, Kurdish, Persian, and Turkmen motifs. These are subdivided into more precise attributions and motif types, examining the derivations and uses of medallions, field repeats, and borders, and the relationships between them. Consumer Review: Fantastic book---definitive info on all aspects of handmade rugs, including each part of the rug: border designs, major & minor motifs, origins of each of these with many attributed to multiple sources. I love to keep this book close at hand & use it frequently as a reference source for rugs & textiles from many of the countries in the Middle East, southwestern, northwestern, and central Asia, & many countries & regions that no longer exist in their original borders. This is one of the top 2-3 reference books that I use most frequently to identify the many elements in the rugs & textiles that I sell & also ones that I buy for my personal collection. |
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